Station-indicator.



PATENTED APR. 5, 1904. H. G. MILLER. STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1903.

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III)" I IHHI' "H; GLMIL LER. STATION INDICATOR.

AP PLIGATION FILED JANJ16, 1903.

PATENTEDAPR. 5, 1-904.

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PATENTED APR. 5, 1904.

H. G. MILLER.

STATION INDICATOR.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1903..

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UNTTnn STATES Patented April 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY Gr. MILLER, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGN OR TO JOHN F. LAPP,

' OF DENVER, COLORADO.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,680, dated April 5,1904.

A li ti fil d January 16, 1903. Serial No. 139,357. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY G. MILLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in the city and county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStation-Indicators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled inthe art to which it appertains .to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in stationindicators, being moreespecially designed for use .on street-cars in cities. It is evident,however, that it may be employed in any relation where a device of itsclass is needed.

This invention is intended to overcome the difficulty of uncertaintywith reference to location experienced by passengers on streetcars,especially at night. Many conductors in this case are very negligentabout calling the streets, or when they pretend to call the passengersoftentimes fail to hear or understand the name of the street.Undistinctness of utterance is not alone to blame for this trouble,since the noise of the car and other noises incident to traffiein busystreets drown the voice of the conductor, who, moreover, is generallyvery busy, making it quite impossible for him to keep the passengersposted as to their location.

My improved device is intended to be operated by'the motorman,preferably by pressing down with the foot in a manner similar to theoperation of the gong. Of course it may be connected with a pull-cordand operated by the conductor, if desired, or it may be operatedautomatically, though no automatic attachment is shown in the drawings.

Having briefly outlined the objects of my improved construction, I willproceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of my improved device, thecasing being removed. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same viewed inthe direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevationof the same. centrically mounted operating-gear removed, showing thehollow cam,or open frame for controlling the tension of the curtainrollers or drums. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 6, Fig.3,,viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is a section taken onthe same line looking in the opposite direction and showing the casingin place. Fig. shows one of the curtain-rollers partly in section,illustrating the manner of connecting the curtain and shown on a largerscale. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the same. Fig.9 is a section takenthrough the eccentric and the operating-gear mounted thereon, togetherwith the adjacent operating parts. Fig.'l0 is a section taken throughone of the end plates, illustrating the spring-actuated pin whichengages the controller-wheel.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numerals 5 and 6 designate two upright end plates in which thecurtain-rollers 7 and 8 are journaled. The curtain 9 is carried by theserollers, which are separated to leave an intermediate curtain-space ofsufficient area to display a street-name on a large scale, so that itmay be easily seen from the most remote part of the car. The curtainbetween the upper and lower rollers passes over small guide-rollers 12and 12, Whose spindles'are journaled at one extremity in an auxiliaryframe-plate l3 and at the opposite extremity in the end frame-plate 6.This plate 13 is supported by a stationary arm 14;, whose lowerextremity is attached to one of the rods 15, connecting the end plates 5and 6. The plate 13 is further supported by a bolt 16, secured to theend plate 5 and upon which a wheel 17 is journaled. This wheel isprovided with short pins or projections 17 1 formed on its periphery,which projections engage'eyelets 9, formed in the curtain 9. This wheelregulates the movement of the curtain and prevents the possibility ofits traveling too far Fig. 4C is an end view with the ecwhenever it isactuated through the instrumentality of mechanism hereinafter described.

Eccentrically mounted on a journal 18, formed integral with the endplate 5, is a cylinder 19, to which is attached acollar 20, made fast tothe eccentric-cylinder by a screw 21 and provided with wings tofacilitate manipulation or adjustment by the hand of the operator. Thiseccentric and the collar attached thereto are held in place on thejournal by a stop-washer 22 and a screw 23, the latter passing throughthe washer and being threaded in the outer end of the journal. TheWasher overlaps the eccentric, which is arranged to turn freely on thejournal for the purpose of adjusting the operating gear 24, which is journaled on the eccentric. The gear 24 is provided with a hub to whichis made fast a ratchet-wheel 25. Between this ratchet and the gear islocated a ring 26, which fits the hub of the gear 24 and turns freelythere- The gear 24 is provided with an interiorlyprojecting concentricflange 24, which fits the interior of an open frame or hollow cam 27,pivoted on the end plate 5, as shown at 28. At the extremity of theframe 27 remote from the pivot 28 the frame is provided with a stud 29,which protrudesthrough a curved slot 30, formed in the plate 5, and isadapted to alternately engage two pivoted spring-held arms 31 and 32.The extremities of these arms remote from the stud are pivoted to theplate 5, as shown at 33 and 34,

. on one edge of the plate 5.

the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, whereby v uppermost, the gear israised to its upper limit of movement and a corresponding movement isimparted to the frame 27, which moves the stud 29 upwardly in the slot30 to engagement with the arm 31,.Which is thereby thrown to afriction-block 31, mounted on the arm 31 roller.

understood that the curtain is drawn from one 6 5 intermediate itsextremities, is disengaged from a disk 38, fast on the curtain-roller 7.When the arm 31 is in this position, the arm 32 is in the oppositeposition, being thrown inwardly by its spring, bringing a similarfriction-block 39, mounted on the arm 32, into engagement with a disk40, fast on the curtain-roller 8. These friction-blocks place therollers alternately under tension, whereby the curtain is kept taut asit is drawn from the When the device is in use, it will be roller andwound on the other roller and the friction-block is made to engage thedisk of the roller from which the curtain is drawn or unwound. After thecurtain has been transferred to the winding-roller the frame 27 isshifted to allow the friction-block to engage the disk of that .roller,and the other roller then becomes the winding-roller. The winding-rolleris actuated from the gear 24. An arm 41 is made fast to the ring 26 andprojects outwardly far enough for the attachment of any suitable meansfor operating the device. Upon this ring is mounted a segment 42, carrying a pivoted pawl or dog 43, which is held in operative engagementwith the ratchetwheel 25 by a spring 44, mounted on a flange 42 of thesegment. As the arm 41 is moved downwardly a short distance or in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 2 it is evident that the ratchet-wheel 25and the gear 24 will be given a partial rotation. When the eccentric 19is in the position best shown in Figs. 2 and 9 of the drawings, the gear24 is made to mesh with a pinion 45, fast on the extremity of the upperroller 7, which roller extremity projects beyond the end of the plate 5.Hence .the downward movement of the arm 41 will impart a movement to theroller 7 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and6. In this event the roller 7 becomes the winding-roller and the curtainis moved from the roller 8 to the roller 7. Then by giving the eccentric19 a half-rotation the gear 24 is moved downwardly, disengaging it fromthe pinion 45 and causing it to mesh with a gear 46, the latter being inmesh with the pinion 47, fast on the journal of the roller 8 andoccupying a position adjacent the plate 5 and in the plane of the othergears. Then if the arm41 is given a downward movement the roller 8 willbe moved in the direction indicated by the arrows located adjacent thesaid rollers in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and 6, whereby the curtain 9 is rolledfrom the roller 7 to the roller 8. After each downward or actuatingmovement of the arm 41 the latter is returned to its normal or originalposition by a coilspring 48, whose upper extremity is attached to thepawl-holding segment 42 and whose lower extremity is secured to thelower part of the end plate 5. As the arm 41 is moved downwardly thisspring 48 is placed under tension, and as soon as the downward pull onthe arm ceases to act the recoil of the spring gives the arm and thering 26 the reverse movement, returning the said parts to their originalor normal position.

An auxiliary locking-dog 49 engages the ratchet-wheel 25 and looks itand its connections against making the reverse movement during thereverse action of the arm 41 and the actuating-pawl 43. This dog 49 ismounted on an arm 50, made fast to the end plate 5.

One edge of the periphery of the controllerwheel 17 is provided withrecesses 17, one of which is normally engaged by a spring-actuated pin51, which passes through the end plate 5, the latter being reinforced orprovided with integral lugs 52 on opposite sides to give the pin abetter bearing or guide and also to make room for a chamber in which thespring 58 is located. The outer portion of this pin 51 is engaged by thelower extremity of a lever 54, fulcrumed onalug 55. The outer extremityof the pin is threaded to receive nuts 56, which forma stop for theengaging extremity of the lever. The arm 41 as it moves downwardlyengages the upper extremity of the lever 54 and forces the arm above thefulcrum inwardly, causing the opposite arm of the lever to moveoutwardly to disengage the pin 51 from the wheel 17. As soon, however,as the movement of the arm 41 is sufficient togive the curtain thedesired movement through the instrumentality of the operatinggears thelocking-pin aga n enters another recess of the wheel17 and locks thelatter against further movement. It will be understood that the lockingof the wheel 17 locks the curtain, since the studs 17 of the wheelengage the eyelets 9 of the curtain. To reduce friction, the arm 41 isprovided with an antifriction-wheel 57, and in order to cause the pin 51to return to its locking position as soon as the arm has moveddownwardly far enough for the purpose the upper arm of the lever 54 isprovided with an enlarged or cam-shaped upper part which graduallydiminishes in size toward the fulcrum, permitting the upper arm of thelever to move outwardly and its opposite arm inwardly in time to performthe function stated.

Opposite the guide-rollers 12 a pair of rollers 58 is located. Theselast-named rollers engage the front surface of the curtain (see Fig. 1)and prevent the latter from moving away from the wheel 17 Oppositethiswheel these rollers 58 are provided with circumferential grooves 58in line with the studs 17 of the wheel to make room for the protrudingextremities of the studs while the rollers are in engagement with thecurtain-surface.

The curtain extremities are secured to the rollers 7 and 8 by means ofrods 59, located in grooves formed in the face of each roller andextending parallel with its axis. The curtain extremity is formed into aloop 9 and a rod is inserted from one endfbeing held in place by thefriction-wheel 38 or 40, as the case may be, at one extremity and by adisk 60 at the opposite extremity. Each curtain-roller is provided witha disk 60, located near its extremity remote from the friction-disk.

WV hen in use, the mechanism should be provided with a casing 61, (seeFig. 6,) having hopper-shaped openings 62 and 63. The inner extremitiesof these openings are covered with glass pieces 64 and 65 or othersuitable transparent material. As shown in the drawings, the opening 62is the front opening of the casing through which the names of thestreets are viewed.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improveddevice will be readily understood. The operating-arm 41 shouldbeconnected with some suitable instrumentality making it convenient forthe operator, as the motorman or conductor of a street-car, whereby thesame may be given a downward movement or a movement in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 2. This movement unlocks the curtain-controller wheel17 and actuates the gear 24, which meshes directly with the pinion 45 onthe upper roller or with the intermediate gear 46, the latter meshingwith the gear 47 on a journal of the roller 8, whereby the curtain isdrawn from one roller and wound on the other roller. It may be assumedthat in going in one direction over the line the curtain will be drawnfrom the lower roller and wound upon the upper roller, exposing all thestreets or stations on the line at suitable intervals. As soon as theend of the line is reached the eccentric 19 will be actuated, giving ita one-half turn, which will throw the gear 24 out ofengagement with thepinion 45 and into mesh with the intermediate gear 46. Then the car isready for the return trip, and as the arm 41 is actuated the curtainwill be intermittently operated in the reverse direction and wound uponthe lower roller,

exposing the names of the streets through the glass 64 in the reverseorder of the exposure when coming in the opposite direction.

The eccentric 19 is provided with apin 19, normally forced against ashoulder 5 on the end plate 5 by a coil-spring 19, seated in a recessbehind the pin, whose inner extremity is conical and adapted to entertwo recesses 5 formed in theshoulder 5 at diametrically op} positepoints. When the pin engages either of these recesses, the operator canhear the click or feel the action which indicates that the eccentric hasreached one of its positions whereby the gears are adjusted for windingthe curtain on one roller or the other, as the case may be.

Having thus described my invention, I claim is 1. In astation-indicator, the combination with a suitable frame, of two rollersjournaled therein, a curtain containing the names of the streets orstations, said curtain being connected with the rollers and arranged tobe wound what from one to the other, a gear on each roller,

tation, the operatinggear is shifted to ening an intermittent movementto the operat-' ing-gear, whereby the curtain is wound from one rollerto the other, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a suitable frame, of separated rollers journaledin said frame, an operating-gear, an eccentric. mounted on the frame andon which the operating-gear is mounted, for shifting the position of thelatter, the eccentric being provided with a springactuated pin having aconical point adapted to enter recesses formed in the frame, therecesses being arranged to receive the pin whenever the eccentric is ineither of two positions of adjustment necessary for the operation of therollers, asuitable gear connection between the operating-gear and thetwo rollers whereby the. curtain may be wound from the one roller to theother at will, and suitable means for imparting an intermittent movementto the operating-gear.

3. The combination with asuitable frame, of separated rollers journaledtherein, a curtain for the names of stations or streets, said ourtainbeing connected with the rollers, an operating-gear, an eccentricmounted on the frame and on which the operating-gear is mounted forshifting the position of the latter, spring-actuated means for lockingthe eccentric in the desired position of adjustment, a connectionbetween said gear and the rollers whereby the curtain may be wound fromeither roller to the other by the operation of the gear, a ratchet-wheelfast on'the gear, a ring mounted on the hub of the gear and providedwith a segment, a spring-actuated pawl mounted on said segment andarranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, an operating armconnected with the ring, and a spring connected with the segment forreturning the ratchet to its normal position after each partial rotationof the gear, and a locking-dog mounted on the frame and engaging theratchet-wheel.

5. The combination with a frame, of sepa rated rollers mounted thereon,a curtain connected with the rollers in operative relation,anoperating-gear, an adjusting-eccentric inwhich the gear is journaled, anoperating connection between the operating-gear and the rollers wherebythe curtain may be wound alternately from the one roller to the other,suitable devices for controlling the rollers whereby the curtain is heldtaut as it is drawn from one roller to the other, the said devices beingarranged t o normally act on both rollers, and means operated by theadjusting-eccentric for rendering the controlling device of one rollerinoperative while the curtain is wound from the other roller.

6. The combination with a suitable frame,of rollers journaled therein, acurtain connected with the rollers, an operating-gear, anadjusting-eccentric upon which the gear is j ournaled,

the gear having a flange, a suitable operative I rollers journaledtherein, a curtain connected therewith, an operating-gear, anadjustingeccentric upon which the gear is mounted, a

suitable operative connection between the gear and the rollers, apivoted frame open to receive a flange formed on the operating-gear, inwhich frame the said flange fits, a stud formed on the pivoted frame, adisk mounted on each roller, and pivoted spring-held arms carryingfriction blocks normally engaging the disks of the rollers,thearrangement being such that as the operated gear is shifted by themovement of the eccentric,the stud of the pivoted frame engages one ofthe pivoted arms and disen gages its friction-block from the disk.

8. The combination with a frame, of rollers journaled therein, a curtainfor the names of streets or stations, the curtain being provided witheyelets and arranged to be alternately drawn from one roller and woundon the other, gearing for actuating the rollers,an operatingarmconnected with said gearing, a wheel having studs formed on itsperiphery and arranged to engage the eyelets of the curtain, the saidwheel being provided with notches formed at regular intervals, aspring-actuated pin normally engaging one of said notches, a lever forwithdrawing the said pin from its engaging notch, and arranged to beactuated for this purpose by the gear-operating arm, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY G. MILLER. Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN.

